Texas
Sheppard Air Force Base
📍 Wichita Falls, Texas
Home to the 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard is a major technical training center and the primary base for aircraft maintenance and pilot training programs.
BAH Rates
MHA: TX181 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,026/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,182/mo
E-5 without Dependents$942/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,491/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,101/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Sheppard Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — 800+ homes; mix of single-family, duplexes, and townhomes; wait lists typically 1-2 months, shorter for permanent party than AETC students
- Off-base (Wichita Falls): BAH covers excellent living in north Texas; typical 3BR rental $900-$1,400/month; one of the best BAH-to-cost ratios in the Air Force
- Top pick: Southwest Wichita Falls (near Sheppard) — 5-10 min to gate, newer homes along Southwest Parkway, Wichita Falls ISD schools, the most popular area for permanent party families
- Burkburnett: 10 min north on I-44, small-town atmosphere, Burkburnett ISD (good small schools), very affordable, popular with all ranks
- Iowa Park: 10 min west, excellent Iowa Park CISD schools, small-town community, newer subdivisions, growing popularity with military families
- Note: Texas summers are intense (100°F+ regularly); central A/C is essential; North Texas gets severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring — look for homes with storm shelters
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Southwest Wichita Falls — Top choice for base families, 5-10 min commute, convenient to shopping on Southwest Pkwy, good Wichita Falls ISD schools (Fowler Elementary, McNiel Middle), newer homes
- Burkburnett — 10 min north, small-town feel with strong community, Burkburnett ISD (smaller classes, personal attention), very affordable housing, popular with families wanting a quieter lifestyle
- Iowa Park — 10 min west, excellent small school district, close-knit community, newer subdivisions with 1990s-2010s homes, growing military presence
- Country living: Many airmen buy acreage within 15-25 min of base; north Texas land is affordable, and the rural lifestyle attracts many at Sheppard
- Midtown Wichita Falls — 15 min from base, older historic homes, proximity to downtown and MPEC, established tree-lined streets, more character but older stock
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Sheppard Elementary⭐ 5/10
On-base, WFISD, military families
Burgess Elementary⭐ 4/10
Wichita Falls, close to base
Iowa Park Elementary⭐ 6/10
Iowa Park, popular alternative
City View Elementary⭐ 6/10
City View, strong small district
🏫 Middle Schools
Kirby Middle School⭐ 4/10
Wichita Falls, closest to Sheppard
Iowa Park Middle School⭐ 5/10
Iowa Park, preferred by many base families
City View Junior High⭐ 5/10
City View, smaller school
🏫 High Schools
Hirschi High School⭐ 3/10
Wichita Falls, closest to base
Iowa Park High School⭐ 6/10
Iowa Park, popular for base families
City View High School⭐ 6/10
City View, small and strong
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Missile Road) — Primary 24/7 entrance off Missile Road and I-44/US-287, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), visitor center for pass processing
- Burkburnett Gate — North entrance off I-44, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays), convenient for Burkburnett and north-side commuters
- South Gate — Off Southwest Parkway, limited hours, best access for base housing and the medical group
- Note: Sheppard straddles I-44; the base is split by the interstate with most facilities on the east side; Missile Road connects both sections
- Tip: Gate traffic is generally manageable; student formations can cause surges at the Main Gate during class change times; avoid 7:30-8:00 AM if possible
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Dominant cable provider for Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, and Iowa Park; speeds up to 1 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- AT&T — DSL and expanding fiber in Wichita Falls metro; AT&T Fiber available in select neighborhoods at speeds up to 1 Gbps
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in Wichita Falls and surrounding towns; speeds 50-200 Mbps; good temporary option
- Starlink — Popular for rural properties outside city limits; excellent for acreage living where wired options are thin
- Top pick: Spectrum cable for most in-town locations; AT&T Fiber where available; Starlink essential for rural properties
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Sheppard Exchange (BX) and commissary; shoppette and food court near main base area; multiple AAFES facilities due to large student population
- Sikes Senter Mall — Wichita Falls' main indoor mall 10-15 min from base with Dillard's, JCPenney, and 60+ retailers; the regional shopping hub
- Southwest Parkway corridor — Wichita Falls' growing commercial strip with Target, Best Buy, restaurants, hotels, and services near the base
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Market Street (upscale United Supermarkets), Walmart Supercenter, Sam's Club in Wichita Falls; smaller grocers in Burkburnett and Iowa Park
- Dining: The Highlander Public House (local craft burgers and beer), McBride's Steakhouse (Wichita Falls institution since 1935), Sevi's (Mexican), and Parkway Grill (near base favorite)
- Downtown Wichita Falls: historic 8th Street with local boutiques, coffee shops, the restored Wichita Theatre for concerts and shows, and the Farmers Market (Saturdays May-October)
Gyms & Recreation
- Sheppard Fitness Center — Large modern gym with cardio, weight room, functional fitness, indoor track, basketball/racquetball courts; 24/7 access; also a separate student fitness facility
- Outdoor Recreation — Boat and kayak rentals for Lake Wichita and Lake Arrowhead, camping gear, hunting/fishing licenses (Texas deer and wild hog hunting is legendary), and ODR trips to DFW and Oklahoma
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Wind Creek Golf Course — 18 holes), swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), sports fields, and community center
- Lake Arrowhead State Park (20 min south) — 16,000-acre lake: boating, fishing for bass/crappie/catfish, hiking/biking trails, and camping; the best local outdoor recreation
- Lake Wichita (10 min south) — 2,200-acre city lake with hiking/biking trail around the shoreline, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing; convenient after-work escape
- Day trips: Dallas/Fort Worth (2 hrs southeast — pro sports, Six Flags, world-class dining and shopping), Oklahoma City (2 hrs north), and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (1 hr north in Oklahoma — bison, elk, excellent hiking)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — plus large civilian workforce for the 82nd TRW training mission; USAJobs for GS/WG positions in training, maintenance, and civil engineering roles
- Defense contractors: Multiple training support contractors, L3Harris, CAE USA, and aircraft maintenance contractors have Sheppard operations
- Wichita Falls economy: Healthcare (United Regional Health Care System — largest employer), Sheppard AFB (largest economic driver), education (MSU Texas, WFISD), and manufacturing
- Spouse employment: The large training mission creates steady civilian and contractor jobs; Midwestern State University provides additional education and administrative opportunities
- Remote work: Popular for Sheppard spouses; Central time zone overlaps well with both coasts; good internet in Wichita Falls metro
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center with active spouse employment program; Texas Workforce Commission has a Wichita Falls office with free career services
Local Attractions
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge — 1 hour north in Oklahoma: free-roaming bison, elk, and Texas longhorn cattle; Mount Scott (drive to summit for panoramic views), excellent hiking, rock climbing, and the historic Holy City of the Wichitas
- Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex — 2 hours southeast: AT&T Stadium (Cowboys), Globe Life Field (Rangers), Six Flags Over Texas, Fort Worth Stockyards (world's largest honky tonk at Billy Bob's), and the Dallas Arts District
- Lake Arrowhead State Park — 20 min south: 16,000-acre lake with excellent fishing, boating, lakeside camping, and hiking/biking trails; the go-to weekend spot for base families
- Lucy Park — In Wichita Falls on the Wichita River: 178-acre urban park with hiking trails, disc golf, playgrounds, and the iconic 'Falls of the Wichita' (man-made but impressive 54-foot waterfall)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame — In downtown Wichita Falls: celebrates the history of pro wrestling with exhibits on icons from Gorgeous George to Ric Flair
- Oklahoma City — 2 hours north: Bricktown entertainment district, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum; a realistic day trip or weekend
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Aerial view of Sheppard Air Force Base showing the runway and training facilities
base
Sheppard AFB facilities — the Air Force's largest technical training installation
base
Headquarters of the Sheppard Technical Training Center on base
neighborhood
Sheppard AFB welcome sign at the main entrance to the installation
housing
Training facilities and hangars at Sheppard supporting the 82nd Training Wing mission
downtown
Aircraft maintenance training area — where thousands of airmen learn their craft